Merivale will close Papi Chulo on Sunday 29 April to make way for Queen Chow Manly, a Cantonese concept which is already making waves in Sydney’s Inner West.
Justin Hemmes, CEO of Merivale, said: “We have had a lot of fun at Papi these past four years, but felt the time was right to evolve the space and its offering. Queen Chow has been a tremendous success in the Inner West, so we’re going to take the very best bits from there and create something really special for Manly”.
Executive Chef Patrick Friesen and dumpling master Eric Koh will lead the charge, serving up a modern Cantonese menu of roast meats, live seafood and diverse dim sum. Further details on menu and open date will be announced in due course.
To celebrate the final weeks of Papi Chulo, the smokehouse and grill has launched a ‘best of’ menu, featuring much-loved classics and the return of old favourites. Friesen collaborated with regular guests and old and new staff to create the final list.
“Papi Chulo had a lot of bangers on her menu over the years and this is our way of giving Manly locals and our regulars one last bite. Of course, it had to match with Autumn seasonality, but quite a few old-timers have made a comeback. I can’t wait to have the porchetta again”.
Guests can start off with the famous pea guacamole, mushroom and spinach croquettes and ever-indulgent roast cauliflower with romesco brown butter crumbs and parmesan. Papi’s signature smoked meats take the lead, with hot wings and comeback sauce, porchetta, pulled pork and Rangers Valley wagyu brisket, while the grill and rotisserie get a workout with whole baby snapper, King prawns, Riverine hanger steak and the charcoal chicken platter. Burger-lovers won’t be disappointed – the Papi Chulo (grain fed beef, bacon, American cheese, tomato, lettuce, pickles), crispy fish (spicy tartar, pickled jalapeno, baby cos) and hot chicken sandwich (shredded iceberg, onion, comeback sauce, soft bun) all make an appearance. The chocolate chip and macadamia cookie, salted caramel brulee tart and tres leches with grilled stone fruit finish things on a sweet note.
“The last four years at Papi Chulo have been incredible, professionally and personally”, says Friesen. “I was proud to call Manly home for much of that time and truly believe it is one of the best postcodes in Sydney. We want to give Papi the send-off she deserves, as we prepare the Manly Wharf site for its exciting new chapter”.
The venue will undergo a small refurb before it reopens as Queen Chow Manly.
